On September 6th, we are unveiling our second Open Letter 2024, the poignant “YOUR SILENCE IS REPRESSION AT WORK” by Zeloot (Eline van Dam). The letter will stay on view in our storefront window for four weeks and is accessible any time.

Eline van Dam: “When we choose to stay silent in the face of injustice, we’re actively bolstering a system that thrives on control and repression. This silence is a way to protect our own privileges and avoid conflicts while letting the worst excesses of power to continue unchecked. The suffering in Palestine is not an isolated tragedy; it’s intricately tied to the global power structures that also oppress us. Our silence doesn’t just ignore this suffering, it hides our complicity and undermines our humanity. To dismantle these corrupt systems, we must face the harsh truth that our comfort comes at the expense of others. Silence is not neutral; it actively supports injustice and blocks the urgent changes we desperately need. As Naomi Klein points out: “The more we censor ourselves, the more we allow the powers that be to censor us, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of oppression.” ” 

Open Letters is an urban intervention project launched by Page Not Found in March 2021. It is designed as an open call for artists and writers in The Hague to occupy our storefront with messages of urgency and vulnerability. Open Letters was inspired by the short essay “The Year I Stopped Making Art. Why the art world should assist artists beyond representation; in solidarity,” written by the artist Paul Maheke in April 2020 as a reflection and call for solidarity in response to the current global situation and art world.

Eline van Dam, also known as Zeloot (born in 1974), studied painting at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague. After her studies, she travelled and organized events within the underground scene in The Hague. She began designing and screen-printing posters and flyers for independent venues, which eventually led to the creation of Helbaard (2004-2008), a project she ran with Manuel Padding. They organized concerts, film screenings, and other cultural events, with self-produced posters that were spread worldwide by performing artists. This experience shaped her graphic style, characterized by bold colours and clear, flat designs.

Over time, Zeloot was increasingly approached as an editorial illustrator by major newspapers and magazines, including The New Yorker, The New York Times, Le Monde, and Die Zeit. In this role, she focuses on translating content or emotions into images that enhance a message without being purely narrative or copying reality. Being mostly inspired by the Polish, Cuban and Japanese poster designs of the 60/70 s, in addition to her work as an illustrator, she continues to create posters for cultural projects and expressions of political discomfort when possible.

We kindly thank Stroom Den Haag, Gemeente Den Haag and the Mondriaan Fund for supporting this programme.

Photo: Open Letter 2024 “Your Silence is Repression at Work” by Zeloot (Eline van Dam), taken by Steven Maybury.